is galena really like this? (Chicago, Rockford: for sale, real estate, rental)

[PennsylvaniaFarmer]

thanks guys, you've been very helpful. i guess it's off to google - it's hard to learn about places without having humans to actually speak with...i guess i gotta hit the road then!

[rgb123]

I knew this would come up

I know, but it can be misleading if you have never been there. The river running through the town of Galena is actually the Galena River. And on the main road (route 20) you won't cross the Mississippi until you are going over to Dubuque...which is about 15 miles away. I know there are more direct ways to get to the mississippi, but just, making the point that if your driving west on Route 20, you might be expecting Galena to be sitting on the banks of the mississippi and that is not the case.

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Actually you can drive 2 miles from downtown Galena and be at the Mississippi River, so it's fairly close.

[tcs1366]

For me, Galena is about a 3 hr ride. and i'm about 30 miles west of Down Town.

as always, times will depend on traffic and construction.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Havasu

It is driving distance from Chicago but it is NOT commuting distance from Chicago.
Its a great little town lots of tourists though and expensive.

It is NOT expensive whatsoever. Compared to Tinytown, NM it might be, but by northern Illinois standards, Galena is quite cheap.

[GoHogsGo]

Like Steve-O said, it's not expensive unless you live in the Territories next to Michael Jordan.

the Apple River runs through Galena (hence why downtown has those massive floodgates) and empties into the Mississippi about 5 miles from Galena.

In 2009, Amtrak is resuming service between Dubuque IA and Chicago (which Galena is on that rail line and will presumably get a stop), so Driving may be completely out of the picture depending on where in Chicago you're going.

[illinoismover]

Actually, it's the Galena River that runs through Galena. The Apple River is in the same county but a little farther east. You can indeed drive about 3 to 4 miles in your car from downtown Galena to the Mississippi River, but you will end up at a private dock. You can best see the Mississippi River from Dubuque, Iowa which is only 11 miles away.
As far as the drive from downtown Chicago, it usually takes me about 3 to 3 1/2 to make the drive to Chicago from Galena.
If you're used to the cost of living in Chicago then the cost of living in Galena will seem a bit cheaper.

[ToriaT]

There are a bunch of towns in Southwest Michigan that are nice right on the lake that are easy driving to Chicago, just about as close as Galena such as South Haven, and Saugatuck, also New Buffalo, etc.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by illinoismover

As far as the drive from downtown Chicago, it usually takes me about 3 to 3 1/2 to make the drive to Chicago from Galena.

And since he asked the question 11 months ago, the original poster has probably slid off the road and killed himself trying to make the drive in the winter.

[esomething]

Galena sounds great! Are there many job opportunities? If so, in what industries? My husband is a teacher would he be able to find work easily?

[ToriaT]

I visited once and its a very nice little town. Very quaint and pretty with nice little shops. Its a drive from Chicago, a couple of hours at least.